Dead Birds: During surveillance week 33, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative tested eight dead birds for West Nile Virus. One dead bird tested positive for West Nile Virus in Quebec.

Since the start of the 2014 West Nile Virus season, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative tested 69 dead birds for West Nile Virus in Canada: Saskatchewan (46), Ontario (16) and Quebec (7). Of these, three (4.3%) dead birds are positive for West Nile Virus: Saskatchewan (2) and Quebec (1).

Domestic Animals: Since the start of the 2014 West Nile Virus season, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported two horses tested positive for West Nile Virus in Canada: Alberta (1) and Saskatchewan (1).

European Union, European Economic Area and Neighbouring Countries

During surveillance week 33, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that the Greek Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) confirmed its first case of West Nile Virus. The Ministry of Health of Israel reported two locally acquired West Nile Virus cases. No new cases were reported for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russian Federation and Serbia.

Since the start of the 2014 West Nile Virus season, 25 human cases have been reported in neighbouring countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina (13), Russian Federation (7) and Serbia (5).

Figure 1. West Nile Virus clinical cases and asymptomatic infections, by Province/Territory and by report week, 2014 season

* Episode date could include one of the following: onset date, diagnosis date, lab sample date, or reporting date.

Satisfies West Nile virus diagnostic test criteria in the absence of clinical criteria. This category could include asymptomatic blood donors whose blood is screened using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAT), by blood operators (i.e. Canadian Blood Services or Hema-Quebec) and is subsequently brought to the attention of public health officials. Blood operators in Canada perform a supplementary West Nile virus specific NAT following any positive donor screen test result.